Lady Jackets Take Two at Lincoln (3/10/07)
Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score
Game 3 Box Score

JEFFERSON CITY, MO – A day after being rained out, the Montana State-Billings softball team won two of three conference games at Lincoln University on Saturday.  Lincoln held on to win a game resumed from Friday, 2-0.  MSUB rebounded to sweep the Saturday doubleheader 7-0 and 7-3.  The Yellowjackets improved to 11-14 overall and 2-1 in the Heartland Conference.

“We didn’t hit too bad; we hit some holes,” said Yellowjacket head coach Kim Lemmens.  “We played better on defense.  I think we’re playing together better defensively.  We had better energy today than we did on Wednesday.  We stayed in the games mentally.  Our mindset was better, and we didn’t let up any.”

The Jackets and Blue Tigers (4-7, 1-3) played three innings of the series opener on Friday before weather forced a postponement.  Lincoln was leading 2-0 when play was suspended.  The game was resumed Saturday morning with the teams agreeing to end it after five innings so two more games could be played before dark.  The Yellowjackets were unable to score in their two innings and dropped their Heartland Conference opener.  Terina Stacks (Washougal, WA) took the loss, allowing four hits and two earned runs.  The Yellowjackets managed just four hits in the game, three singles and a Stacks double.

The loss extended the Jackets’ losing streak to four games dating back to the Central Washington Invitational last weekend.  They dropped a doubleheader to University of Mary at home on Wednesday.  In the four losses, the Yellowjackets scored a combined eight runs.  In snapping the losing streak, the Jackets averaged a run per inning in Saturday’s two wins.

In the first full game, a 7-0 MSUB win, Stacks was effective in the circle for her fourth win of the year.  She scattered three hits over seven innings without allowing a run.  She struck out four and walked four.  Stacks lowered her season ERA to 4.30.

The Yellowjacket offense pounded out a dozen hits, with half of those coming from the Nos. 5 and 6 hitters.  Jenna Haacke (Billings, MT) was 3-for-4 with a triple.  She scored three runs and drove in another.  Jenna McCartney (Hamilton, MT) was also 3-for-4, scoring twice and driving in a pair of RBIs. Stacks helped her own cause, going 2-for-4 with another double.  She leads the team with eight doubles and 20 RBIs this season.  Leslie Davis (Federal Way, WA) was also 2-for-4 and drove in two runs.

In the final game, Rebekah Tsatsa (Eagle, ID) tossed a two-hitter for her fourth win of the season.  She allowed three runs, but only one was earned.  She struck out six with six walks.

The Yellowjackets blew open a scoreless game with six runs in the top of the fourth inning to give Tsatsa plenty of breathing room.  Jessica Frank (Great Falls, MT) was 2-for-3 with a double.  She scored a run and drove in a run.  Davis was also 2-for-3 with two runs and an RBI.  Tsatsa had the best offensive game of her career, going 2-for-4 with a run and an RBI.  Haacke drove in two runs.

MSU Billings continues its grueling early season road schedule next weekend with games at Oklahoma Panhandle State on March 17 and 18.  The Jackets will play a non-conference doubleheader at West Texas A&M on March 19 before going to Austin for a weekend series at St. Edward’s on March 24 and 25.  The Jackets’ travel finally ends with a March 28 trip to play at University of Great Falls.  MSUB will play 14 of its final 20 regular season games at home.